Burnsville, MN to Sartell, MN is 89.2 miles and takes about 1 hour 49 minutes via I-94, I-494, and MN-15 N, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Minnesota, moving from the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area north towards central Minnesota. Expect a straightforward drive that's ideal for a single day. It's a practical route for getting between these two points without much fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
44.6 miles from Burnsville, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
49.6 mi
53m
I 494
21.7 mi
27m
MN-15 N
6.9 mi
9m
I 35W
5.4 mi
6m
Riverside Avenue South
1.9 mi
4m
Nicollet Avenue South
0.6 mi
1m
MN 13
0.3 mi
<1m
1st Avenue North
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 49.6 mi, about 53m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 19 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,094 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,644
Quietest
2 AM
~163 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
19×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 47 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Burnsville, MN and Sartell, MN.
1
Start on Nicollet Avenue South
0.6 mi·1 min·Nicollet Avenue South
2
Turn left onto MN 13
0.3 mi·32 sec·MN 13
3
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward I 35W North: MinneapolisUse the slight right lane.
4
Merge onto I 35W
5.4 mi·6 min·I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Exit 8B-CToward I 494 East, MN 5 EastUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 494 West, MN 5 West
7
Merge onto I 494; MN 5
5.8 mi·7 min·I 494; MN 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 494; MN 5
16 mi·19 min·I 494; MN 5
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·49 sec
Exit 27Toward I 94 West: Saint CloudUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 94
17 mi·18 min·I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
33 mi·35 min·I 94
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward MN 15 North: Saint Cloud
13
Merge onto MN 15
6.9 mi·9 min·MN-15 N
Use the straight lane.
14
Turn left onto CR 1
0.3 mi·50 sec·Riverside Avenue South
15
Enter roundabout onto CR 1
113 ft·3 sec·Riverside Avenue South
16
Continue on CR 1
1.6 mi·3 min·Riverside Avenue South
17
Turn left onto 1st Street North
440 ft·23 sec·1st Street North
18
Turn right onto 1st Avenue North
0.2 mi·49 sec·1st Avenue North
19
Arrive at destination
2nd Street North
Trip Plan
Since this drive is under two hours, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Burnsville mid-morning should allow you to avoid the worst of rush hour traffic in the Twin Cities metro area. With only one recommended day for this trip, you can easily complete it in a single go. There are no designated stops listed, so you can decide if and when you want to pull over for a break. Keep an eye on your fuel as you leave the more populated areas, as services might be less frequent on MN-15 N.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 44.6 miles from Burnsville, MN, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49.6 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 20 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.6 miles or 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sartell, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Burnsville, MN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Burnsville, MN
This is one driving day of about 89.2 miles and 1h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Burnsville, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 94 for about 49.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 29.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1 mi into trip|~1m in
Take the exit toward I 35W North: Minneapolis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 35W North: Minneapolis
8
6.7 mi into trip|~8m in
Take the exit toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 8B-C
Toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
6
6.9 mi into trip|~9m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 494 West, MN 5 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 494 West, MN 5 West
6
13.6 mi into trip|~18m in|I 494; MN 5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 494; MN 5
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
29.5 mi into trip|~38m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 94 West: Saint Cloud
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 27
Toward I 94 West: Saint Cloud
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.01 one way
$30.01 round trip
$4.27/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$16.16
$32.32
premium
$5.04
$17.69
$35.37
diesel
$5.64
$19.80
$39.61
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-05-11.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.8
0
$9.37
$4.28
Efficient EV
22.3
0
$7.81
$3.57
EV Truck/SUV
35.7
0
$12.49
$5.71
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of May 11, 2026
Origin
Burnsville, MN
Late night
in Burnsville on Saturday
Local time
3:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
36°F
Clear then Areas Of Frost
NE 0 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued May 10 at 6:18PM CDT until May 11 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued May 10 at 1:00PM CDT until May 11 at 8:00AM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
Destination
Sartell, MN
Late night
in Sartell on Saturday
Local time
3:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
27°F
Clear then Widespread Frost
NNE 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued May 10 at 6:18PM CDT until May 11 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued May 10 at 1:00PM CDT until May 11 at 8:00AM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
67°F
Corcoran, MN
45 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
9 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 49m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is predominantly highway driving, with 94% of the route on major roads. You'll encounter a long stretch of 49.6 miles on I-94, offering a consistent cruising experience. The transition from highway to surface roads will occur as you approach your destination, with MN-15 N serving as the primary surface road. Be prepared for the increased number of exits and intersections as you get closer to Sartell.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 49.6 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and I 494. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 89.2 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,083 ft833 ft
Total Climb
324 ft
Total Descent
266 ft
Highest Point
1,083 ft
~82.9 mi in
Elevation Range
250 ft
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 49m. Total distance: 89.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 49.6 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 8 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Sartell, MN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Sartell, MN before heading back.
